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Taking a grim view of incidents of sewer deaths in the country, the Supreme Court on Friday said government authorities will have to pay Rs 30 lakh as compensation to the kin of those who die while cleaning sewers. A bench comprising Justices S Ravindra Bhat and Aravind Kumar said those who suffer permanent disabilities while cleaning sewers will be paid Rs 20 lakh as minimum compensation. "The Union and the state governments must ensure that manual scavenging is completely eradicated," the bench said. Pronouncing the judgement, Justice Bhat said the authorities will have to pay up to Rs 10 lakh if the cleaner suffers other disabilities. Issuing a slew of directions, which were not read out, the bench directed that the government agencies must coordinate to ensure that such incidents do not occur and moreover, the High Courts are not precluded from monitoring the cases related to sewer deaths. The judgement came on a PIL. The detailed order is awaited. As many as 347 people died
The railways on Sunday said that even ticketless travellers on board the passenger trains involved in the Odisha accident will receive compensation. This is in line with a Supreme Court order, officials said. "Irrespective of the passengers being ticketless (or not), they will receive compensation," railway spokesperson Amitabh Sharma said. Speaking to reporters, Jaya Verma Sinha, Member of Operations and Business Development of the Railway Board, said that every patient admitted in hospitals have a scout or a guide with him to help his kin to track him. Verma further said the helpline number 139 is available in which senior rail officers are answering calls and are trying to connect with as many people as possible. "The family members of the injured or deceased can call us and we will make sure that they are able to meet them. We will take care of their journey and other expenses," she said. The railways also said that the 139 service will continue uninterrupted and will ensure .
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday said the compensation being given to the affected people in subsidence-hit Joshimath is the best one possible and they should avail it as soon as possible. "We have decided the best compensation for the affected people in Joshimath. Those who can avail the compensation should do so soon," Dhami said. He said this while meeting the affected people in Joshimath. For people who do not have their own piece of land, prefabricated houses have been built, the chief minister said. He also undertook a spot inspection of the prefabricated houses being constructed on the Auli road. Giving an update on relief operations underway at Joshimath, Chamoli District Magistrate Himanshu Khurana said 167 families have been kept in relief camps and compensation worth Rs 10.46 crore have been distributed among affected land owners. Dhami was in Joshimath on Saturday to flag off the two-day Auli marathon to send the message of a safe Joshimath a